Corruption Changes DMK’s Political Fortune

The issue of corruption has shut out the political fortune of the incumbent Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam party in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu, and swept into power the state’s main opposition All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam party.

Babu/Reuters

A supporter of AIADMK holds a party’s election symbol during celebration of the party’s victory.

The AIADMK, led by ex-movie star J. Jayalalithaa recorded a landslide victory Friday, winning 150 seats in the 234-member Tamil Nadu assembly; the DMK has won 23 seats and its ally the Congress Party, 5 seats, according to the Election Commission of India.

During last assembly elections in 2006, the AIADMK won 61 seats; the DMK and Congress won 96 and 34 seats respectively.

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Political experts say Friday’s verdict indicates that the issue of corruption has emerged as the main influential factor in this election, and became the public’s main concern across the country.

“The problems for the DMK are not over,” said Cho S. Ramaswamy, a well-known political commentator. “The verdict has marked the beginning of the end for the regional party.”

The assembly elections in Tamil Nadu were held against the backdrop of a telecom-licensing scandal in which former telecom minister and senior DMK leader Andimuthu Raja, has been charged with wrongdoing in the allocation of spectrum licenses, leading to his arrest this February.

Also charged in the scam is DMK leader and outgoing Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi’s daughter K. Kanimozhi, whose fate will be decided Saturday, a day after the elections results, when a local court in New Delhi is expected to announce its orders on her bail plea.

Professor Ramaswamy says the DMK defeat, however, could mean a win for the Congress-led coalition government at the center – that has been grappling with credibility issues after being clouded by corruption scandals and rising prices.

The future of the DMK-Congress alliance will depend on the outcome of the probe into the telecom scandal, he said, adding “there will be no immediate alliance between the Congress and AIADMK.”

Subramanian Swamy, president of a regional Janata Party and one of the petitioners in the telecom scandal, echoes similar views.

He says the Congress cannot afford to enrage the DMK: “By alienating DMK, the Congress will run the risk of getting exposed for their involvement in the telecom scandal. So, it will never leave the DMK.”

Mr. Swamy says further the AIADMK “does not inspire confidence” in the Congress party as its leader Ms. Jayalalithaa is “a leader with mercurial records”.

“The Congress is faced with a choice of devils in the deep sea,” he said. “The DMK is a better political option for it (Congress) in comparison to the AIADMK which is a cinema fan-club.”

The Congress party, however, has taken a more cautious line, stating there is a “tradition of revolving government” in Tamil Nadu.

“One of the principles of politics is you don’t leave your allies; the electoral alliance is not like instant coffee that you can change the flavor,” Congress spokesman Manish Tewari said.

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